Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
In Chief of Staff Tsuru's office, Finn sat on the leather sofa, absently stroking the broken half of his sword with one hand.
The injuries he'd sustained fighting Charlotte Linlin genuinely weren't serious. By the time he'd returned to Headquarters, the chest wound had mostly healed, leaving only faint scars. There were no lingering complications. His body's recovery rate continued to impress even the medical staff.
However, every time he looked at the famous sword that had accompanied him for several years, now damaged beyond proper function, Finn felt genuine unhappiness settle over him like a weight.
Finn and Borsalino had parted ways immediately in the New World after securing Dr. Vegapunk. Borsalino hadn't brought the scientist back to Headquarters at all. After receiving transfer orders from Admiral Sengoku, he'd taken Vegapunk directly to Punk Hazard to begin establishing the Marine Science Unit there.
On the journey back, Finn had gone to visit the famous doctor, wanting to speak with him about his research and future work.
But Vegapunk had obviously been in an extremely foul mood and hadn't wanted to say anything substantial to Finn beyond terse responses.
Come to think of it, the man's reaction was entirely understandable. Vegapunk had been conducting scientific research on Kusagumo Island, eating good food and singing songs as he pleased, when he'd been suddenly kidnapped by Marines. Kidnapped might be too strong a word, but from his perspective? That's exactly what it had been.
After the abduction, they'd essentially forced him into service with the Marine Science Corps, whether he wanted to join or not.
It would be strange if Vegapunk could actually be pleasant toward Finn and the others who'd captured him.
Although Finn remained very curious about what existed inside Vegapunk's brilliant mind that made him five hundred years ahead of the rest of the world's scientific understanding, and though he was genuinely fascinated by what kind of technological innovations the Lineage Factor theory could potentially bring about, Finn ultimately wasn't a scientific researcher himself. He didn't understand the technical details deeply enough to engage meaningfully.
Seeing that Dr. Vegapunk wouldn't give him a friendly reception, Finn had been too pragmatic to waste effort trying to win him over.
After visiting twice and receiving cold shoulders both times, he'd simply stopped paying attention to the scientist.
It wasn't his responsibility anyway. He wasn't going to be commanding the Science Corps. According to current arrangements, Borsalino would be taking root in that organization for the next twenty years at minimum. Finn had absolutely no intention of competing for authority there, so why should he care excessively about what Vegapunk thought of him?
Finn had ignored the scientist, but Borsalino, with his characteristic patience and diplomatic skill, had taken excellent care of Vegapunk throughout the remainder of their journey.
Vegapunk wasn't a completely stubborn or ideologically rigid person. Otherwise, he would have committed suicide like those Ohara scholars rather than eventually serving in the Marines for more than twenty years, even if under duress at first.
After learning that Borsalino would be the supreme commander overseeing the Marine Science Unit, Vegapunk had softened considerably and given the Vice Admiral appropriate respect.
In the end, their relationship could barely be described as "having a pleasant conversation," which was probably the best outcome anyone could have hoped for under the circumstances.
Borsalino had gone straight back to Punk Hazard with his new charge, while Finn had returned to Marineford to deliver his official report.
After reporting the mission details to Admiral Sengoku and Fleet Admiral Kong, and resting for a full day to ensure his injuries had completely stabilized, Finn had decided to visit his former commanding officer. That's what brought him to see Chief of Staff Tsuru today.
Seeing Finn sitting there absentmindedly stroking his broken sword with an expression of genuine melancholy, Chief of Staff Tsuru set aside the documents she'd been reviewing and asked with a gentle smile, "What are you thinking about, Finn?"
"Doflamingo..." Finn finally snapped out of his reverie and returned the smile.
"Doflamingo? That troublesome boy from the Donquixote Family?" Chief of Staff Tsuru's expression showed momentary surprise, one eyebrow rising slightly.
"Yes, exactly him," Finn confirmed with a nod.
"I heard from Gion that you encountered him before in the North Blue, didn't you? What's the connection? Why are you thinking about him now?" Tsuru shook her head with mild disapproval. "I'd advise you not to have any dealings with that particular individual. He's extremely troublesome and dangerous. Nothing good comes from association with Doflamingo."
After a brief pause, she seemed to remember something else and added, "Come to think of it, Rosinante returned not long ago."
Finn blinked with surprise. If Chief of Staff Tsuru hadn't mentioned Rosinante, he would have nearly forgotten about that young man who'd once served as something like his personal assistant during their time working together.
Thinking about it now, he genuinely missed having Rosinante around to peel apples for him and handle minor tasks. The kid had been earnest and helpful, if somewhat clumsy.
If Finn remembered the timeline correctly, Rosinante had been sent by Admiral Sengoku to work in the Intelligence Staff Department after his initial training, which meant he'd technically been one of Tsuru's subordinates.
He'd also worked directly under Finn for a period, since Finn himself had come up through Intelligence.
"Returned? Returned where? Back to Doflamingo?" Finn asked, his interest piqued.
Rosinante's true identity was a closely guarded secret within the Marines. Very few people knew that he possessed Celestial Dragon blood, that he was a descendant of the Donquixote Family, and that he was Doflamingo's younger brother who'd fled from that life.
However, both Finn and Chief of Staff Tsuru were among those cleared to know.
Tsuru nodded slowly. "Yes. He left just a few days ago, actually. As a Lieutenant Commander of Marine Headquarters, he accepted an extremely dangerous undercover mission, infiltrating the Donquixote Family as a deep-cover operative."
"That sounds quite dangerous," Finn murmured quietly, genuine concern coloring his voice despite his usual pragmatism.
He knew exactly how that mission would end. Rosinante would die on Minion Island years from now, sacrificing himself to save Trafalgar Law and keep the Ope-Ope Fruit from falling into his brother's hands.
"Yes, it's an incredibly risky assignment," Tsuru agreed, her expression growing more serious. "Sengoku originally didn't plan to let him go at all. He wanted to keep Rosinante safe at Headquarters. But Rosinante insisted on accepting the mission. He said he wanted to prove to Sengoku that he wouldn't bring shame to him, that he could be useful despite his... background."
She smiled slightly, though sadness touched the expression. "Before leaving, he mentioned with regret that he couldn't say goodbye to you properly. He wanted to, but you were still in the New World at the time."
Finn's face twitched slightly with complicated emotions. Prove he wouldn't bring shame to Admiral Sengoku? Good heavens, this kid Rosinante would eventually cause Sengoku tremendous grief and pain with his death.
However, although the young man possessed an extraordinarily kind heart, almost saint-like in his compassion, he also carried an inexplicable aura of being a catastrophic teammate. Everything Rosinante touched seemed to go wrong somehow, usually in ways that hurt the people trying to help him.
But it was a life Finn had saved with his own hands years ago in the North Blue. When Finn had been stationed at Headquarters initially, Rosinante had also taken care of him in various small ways, running errands and providing companionship. The kid had played a significant role in helping Finn establish such a close, almost familial relationship with Admiral Sengoku so quickly.
If there's an opportunity in the future, I should save his life on Minion Island, Finn thought with determination. By the way, I could torture Doflamingo at the same time. Killing two birds with one stone. That would be immensely satisfying.
"Since he has such determination and ambition, we shouldn't try to stop him," Finn finally said, keeping his knowledge of future events carefully hidden. "Let him go and prove himself. Due to his... unique status as Sengoku's adopted son, it's not convenient for him to enter the military academy for formal officer training, and his rank promotion has been somewhat restricted as a result. Admiral Sengoku has been too protective of him. Letting Rosinante go into the field to gain real experience will help him accumulate actual qualifications and merit, so he can earn proper promotions when he returns."
"I think so too," Tsuru nodded in agreement. "Although Rosinante doesn't possess exceptional talent in terms of combat strength, he's genuinely skilled at intelligence gathering and analysis. It would be beneficial to let him develop a strong career in the Intelligence Department eventually. He has the temperament for it, despite his clumsiness."
After a brief pause, she returned to the earlier topic with curiosity. "So what exactly do you want with Doflamingo? Are you somehow involved with him beyond that initial sword incident?"
"A little bit, I suppose," Finn said evasively, his hand continuing to stroke the broken blade.
Before Tsuru could press for details, Finn continued with deliberate casualness, "I took this sword, Sōzai, from Doflamingo and his Donquixote Family back in the North Blue years ago. It's been with me continuously until now. I've developed genuine feelings for this blade, you could say attachment. I never imagined it would be destroyed by Charlotte Linlin during our fight. It really breaks my heart seeing it like this."
He held up the broken weapon, examining the fractured edge with obvious regret. "Now I don't have a proper blade I can use effectively, and I feel like half my power has vanished. I'm extremely uncomfortable with this situation. So I was thinking... that bastard Doflamingo probably doesn't have another sword of comparable quality to Sōzai lying around, but maybe I could try to steal something else valuable from him if I get the chance. Consider it compensation."
Chief of Staff Tsuru felt genuine exasperation after hearing Finn's absolutely shameless words.
Dear god, "try to steal from him again?" As a Marine, as a Vice Admiral of Marine Headquarters no less, do you have any shame saying such things out loud?
And as for your strength, everyone who knows you at Marine Headquarters understands that although you carry a famous sword and possess solid fundamentals, you've always been mediocre at best in terms of pure swordsmanship, okay?
You're primarily a Devil Fruit user and Haki specialist who happens to carry a sword, not a true swordsman in the traditional sense.
If your sword breaks, half your strength disappears? That's complete nonsense! It has virtually no real impact on your actual combat capabilities!
However, Tsuru could genuinely see that despite the exaggeration, Finn felt real sorrow about his broken blade. Sōzai had accompanied him for years, through countless battles and struggles. That kind of bond with a weapon wasn't something that could be easily dismissed.
Therefore, she didn't expose his few remaining scraps of dignity by calling out the exaggeration directly.
"It's better to have minimal involvement with Doflamingo going forward," Tsuru said gently but firmly. "That young man is extremely troublesome and dangerous. His temperament is volatile, and he holds deep grudges. As for replacing your sword, Gion also heard that Sōzai was broken during your fight. She said she wanted to give you her own Konpira as a replacement when you return to your posting..."
Finn immediately shook his head with emphasis. "No, absolutely not. That Konpira in Gion's possession is her most precious treasure. Why should I compete with her for it? That would be completely inappropriate. Besides, the sword would be wasted in my hands compared to the swordsmanship power she can unleash with it. She's a true master; I'm just competent. It wouldn't make any tactical sense."
Chief of Staff Tsuru looked at Finn with a strange, almost pitying expression, thinking to herself with mild exasperation, This boy really is completely clueless about women.
As Gion's "big sister" and close confidante, Tsuru knew very well that Gion's Konpira had been with her for more than ten years, since childhood. She'd kept it at her side constantly and had always treasured it above almost anything else.
Gion didn't like it when other people even wanted to touch the blade, let alone borrow it.
Now she'd heard that Finn's Sōzai had been destroyed and that he was feeling depressed about the loss, so she'd offered to give Konpira to him without a moment's hesitation, without any conditions attached.
Can't you understand the depth of feeling contained in that gesture?
Even in Tsuru's experienced opinion, this offer was far more valuable than the Rumble-Rumble Fruit that Finn had given to Gion years ago.
It wasn't that Konpira itself was more materially valuable than a Logia Devil Fruit. Rather, the emotional significance and personal sacrifice involved in offering her most cherished possession far exceeded the practical value of the Devil Fruit.
But seeing that Finn remained completely "oblivious" to the romantic implications, Chief of Staff Tsuru decided not to explain further.
It was normal for relationships between men and women to have complications and obstacles. Otherwise, how could the eventual outcome seem precious and meaningful?
Let Gion work hard to pursue what she wants. The girl needed to put in effort if she genuinely cared about this dense fool.
Tsuru was getting too old to involve herself in young people's romantic affairs anyway. Better to stay out of it.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Finn shifted topics. "Chief of Staff, the Intelligence Department maintains extensive contacts throughout the underworld and legitimate markets. If you get the chance, could you please keep an eye out for anywhere selling famous swords? I'd like to acquire a replacement as soon as possible."
"What quality level are you looking for?" Tsuru asked pragmatically.
"At minimum, it should be on the same tier as my Sōzai, right? One of the twenty-one Great Grade swords would be ideal," Finn said after thinking for a moment.
He really couldn't bring himself to settle for lower-tier blades like Yubashiri, Kashu, or Sandai Kitetsu. Those Skillful Grade swords simply wouldn't meet his needs.
With his current strength, the opponents he'd face in the future would definitely be powerful individuals at Charlotte Linlin's level or potentially even stronger.
Charlotte Linlin had just destroyed his Great Grade sword. If he acquired something of lower quality than Sōzai, he might suffer the same humiliating loss of his weapon in future battles.
Even though Mihawk famously claimed that any sword could eventually be refined into a permanent Black Blade through sufficient mastery and Haki infusion, that process still required tremendous time and constant tempering through combat.
What's more, the base quality and material composition of the blade remained critically important regardless of the wielder's skill. You couldn't turn a butter knife into a legendary weapon no matter how much Haki you poured into it.
"Famous swords at the level of the twenty-one Great Grade blades, or even the twelve Supreme Grade swords, are incredibly rare and difficult to obtain. They rarely appear on the market at all," Tsuru said with a slight smile. "You were already extremely fortunate to have obtained Sōzai in the first place. Wanting another blade of that caliber so soon after losing one... Haha, forget it. I'll keep an eye out for you anyway. If anything suitable appears, I'll let you know immediately."
"Hahahaha, thank you very much, Chief of Staff!" Finn laughed genuinely. "As for luck, I've always considered myself rather fortunate. Things tend to work out in my favor eventually."
Chief of Staff Tsuru paused for a moment, then recalled Finn's various accomplishments and improbable successes over the years. She couldn't help but smile and acknowledge, "That's actually true. You have been consistently lucky throughout your career, haven't you?"
Finn grinned, then carefully sheathed the broken Sōzai he'd been stroking and set it aside on the sofa. He picked up his teacup and took a sip of the cooling tea. "I've been extremely busy with matters at G-7 Base lately. After arriving at Headquarters this time, I went directly to the New World without much chance to catch up on events. Has anything new or noteworthy happened on the ocean recently? Anything the Intelligence Department considers significant?"
"Worthy of particular note?" Tsuru stroked her chin thoughtfully, then began listing developments. "There are several new pirates who seem quite formidable and are gaining reputation rapidly. One is that Doflamingo you mentioned earlier. Another is someone called Gekko Moriah, who's making waves in the Paradise half of the Grand Line. Oh, and that former king of the Sorbet Kingdom, Bartholomew Kuma, whom you personally deposed in the South Blue? He's also become a pirate now and has entered the first half of the Grand Line as well."
"Doflamingo and Moriah aren't particularly concerning to me at their current level," Finn said after considering for a moment. "But Bartholomew Kuma definitely deserves serious attention. Although I never actually fought him directly when we removed him from power, his presence and aura alone were enough to make me list him as a genuinely formidable potential enemy. That man possesses extraordinary power."
"Really? Interesting assessment," Tsuru mused. "I personally think Moriah shows tremendous potential. It's unfortunate he chose the pirate path instead of joining the Marines. As for Bartholomew Kuma..."
She paused briefly before continuing with a slightly puzzled tone. "His behavior pattern is quite strange for a pirate. He never robs ordinary civilians, nor does he harass World Government member nations. On the contrary, although he flies the pirate flag and technically operates as a pirate, he's been systematically wiping out other pirate crews he encounters along his route. It's almost like he's doing our job for us."
Finn's expression remained carefully neutral, though internally he understood exactly why Kuma was behaving that way. The man was working for Dragon and the Revolutionary Army, using his pirate identity as cover while actually protecting civilians and eliminating genuine threats.
"He has his own unique style and philosophy," Finn said diplomatically, keeping his knowledge of Kuma's true allegiance carefully hidden. "Some people don't fit into conventional categories. Kuma is one of them."